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Kindle is removing download and transfer option on Feb 26th

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Re: Kindle is removing download and transfer option on Feb 26th

#101

Post by barbazoo »

freeAgent wrote: post #90
bo1024 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is far worse for me than the other possible interpretation - that you could download books but not transfer them. I buy Amazon e-books to read them on other e-readers, but now it looks like I can't.

That’s the bottom line. Kindle books will now be fully locked into the Kindle ecosystem and if Amazon decides to take back something you’ve “purchased,” you’ll have no recourse. I’m done purchasing ebooks from Amazon because of this.

TIL that Kobo integrates with libraries, that means you can download and read library ebooks on your Kobo.

Re: Kindle is removing download and transfer option on Feb 26th

#102

Post by barbazoo »

Hackbraten wrote: post #99

I bought a Tolino vision color (a rebranded Kobo Libra Color with shittier software) a few months ago. If Amazon no longer allows me to download purchased books, I can no longer de-DRM them and read them offline on my phone, on my Tolino or on my computer. It seems that most stores outside Amazon have even shittier DRM than Amazon has. How am I going to be able to buy books in the future so I can actually read them?…

Kobo, I never had problems downloading the books and getting rid of the DRM.

Re: Kindle is removing download and transfer option on Feb 26th

#103

Post by palata »

8ytecoder wrote: post #31
locusofself wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also, what better products are there? Kobo? I have a kindle oasis and it's a great device. Not that I love giving money to Amazon, I avoid that when I can with library or at least heavily discounted/public domain or side-loaded books whenever possible.

Kobo Libra color. If I’m being very honest, the screen isn’t as good as the oasis but it’s a compromise I’ve accepted for vastly superior hackability. I telnet into my kobo and installed tailscale then pointed the api to my calibre web instance, I have a much better experience overall because the books are drm-free(d) and calibre web handles sync with kobo really well. And it has physical buttons. I was clinging to m…

> the screen isn’t as good as the oasis

Genuinely interested: how good does the screen have to be for mimicking text on paper? I have a Kindle from around 2013, I don't think I would ever need a better quality?

> I telnet into my kobo and installed tailscale then pointed the api to my calibre web instance

Wow that sounds great! This would make me consider a Kobo now (though my old Kindle is still good enough) :-).

Re: Kindle is removing download and transfer option on Feb 26th

#104

Post by palata »

permo-w wrote: post #28
loeg wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use a Kindle and pretty much exclusively sideload. The display and form factor are fantastic. Battery life is very good. Last time I was in the market (late 2021), nothing else was as good.

you're right. it's an e-reader that you can email any epub file to and it'll read it. if you don't want to pirate, there's a functional store. what more do people need?

People say that Kobo is hackable. Is it not possible to set up an email workflow there as well? Shouldn't be too hard, right?

Re: Kindle is removing download and transfer option on Feb 26th

#105

Post by syntaxing »

josteink wrote: post #78
syntaxing wrote: post #70

I don’t really get the Kindle hype. Kobo is a vastly better experience and the unlimited plans are more affordable. Kobo is $8 a month, $10 for books and audiobooks. Kindle is $12 flat. Kobo has g drive and Dropbox integration. Also the e-readers use the same screens (minus the “colorsoft” which is still a e-ink product).

Uh. My Kindle cost me $100 like 8-10 years ago and has literally zero running costs. What are these figures you are mentioning? If a Kobo means a monthly fee, I swear I’ll never even consider getting one.

I meant the book and audiobook subscription. It’s equivalent to Kindle Unlimited.

Re: Kindle is removing download and transfer option on Feb 26th

#108

Post by bambax »

addicted wrote: post #62

I’m not sure why anyone buys Kindles when there are so many better options available. I bought a Kobo Clara years ago, and it supports regular MOBI and ePub files. My book purchases are no longer liked with the reader and I’ve never had a problem in all these years. And this wasn’t even the best or best value for money device I could have bought. Today there are so many other better alternatives in all price points a…

It is (was) very convenient to buy ebooks on Amazon, download them to Calibre, and strip them of DRM so that you ended up owning them for real.

If that's no longer possible then there's no point in using Amazon for this, yes.

Re: Kindle is removing download and transfer option on Feb 26th

#109

Post by 42772827 »

loloquwowndueo wrote: post #83
42772827 wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can still download books you paid a license to Amazon for, you just have to use a Wi-Fi or 4G LTE-enabled Kindle to do it.

“Just” - my gen 2 kindle only has 2G connectivity so this removal effectively renders it unable to get Amazon-purchased books in any way. “Just” implies buying an entirely new kindle “just because”.

I mean, you’re not wrong, but Woot has them on sale for ~$30 fairly often. Your Gen 2 is about sixteen years old at this point.
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